The Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch, CeFTIW, on Thursday, disclosed how to foster transparency in the public sector
The Centre’s Board Chairman, Angela Nworgu, who unveiled new research protocols on transparency said, the Transparency and Integrity Index, can be used to monitor public sector expenditure and strengthen integrity mechanisms in public institutions.
Speaking at the presentation of the Transparency and Integrity Index, TII, Methodology Handbook for 2023 Assessment in Abuja, Nwogu said the latest model is a powerful tool that can be used to ensure transparency in the public sector.
According to Nworgu: “. We are gathered here today to shed light on an important initiative in the task of enhancing transparency and accountability to reduce corruption in the nation’s public service.
“Transparency, as we firmly believe, is an essential principle of good governance. It is an important tool which citizens use to hold the government accountable, promote trust in the government, and foster a thriving ground for integrity.
“The TII aims to promote transparency by closely monitoring the publication of vital information that should rightfully be in the public domain, particularly through the websites and portals of public institutions in line with the principles of proactive disclosure.
“The TII serves as a powerful tool to promote transparency, monitor public sector expenditure, and strengthen the integrity mechanisms of public institutions and through this assessment, we hope to make a long-lasting impact in fostering a culture of openness and accountability within the public sector.”
Nworgu said the 2023 TII methodology handbook is a detailed guide to the variables and scoring criteria that would be used in the assessment of public institutions’ compliance with fiscal transparency and accountability laws and other commitments.
She noted that the variables were carefully designed to align with applicable laws and statutory instruments, ensuring a robust and comprehensive assessment process. “The guiding principles behind the TII variables are drawn from a range of legal frameworks, including the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); the Public Procurement Act 2007 (as amended), the Freedom of Information Act 2011; the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007; Executive Order No. 001, 200; Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Federal Character Principles.
“We also derive inspiration from national strategies such as the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2017-2021) and (2022-2026) and the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability; Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018; Sustainability Framework among others.”